​​Thank you for your inquiries on CMS1028, Severe Obstetric Complications (ePC-07). Inquiry #1: As per first 2 definitions in the query , please help us understand how to interpret the terms Stratification and PCMaternal.Variable Calculated Gestational Age ? and does this affect the measure functionality in any way? STRATIFICATON: Proportion measures sometimes have reporting strata defined for a measure. Strata are variables that define a subdivision of the measure for reporting (for example, reporting separately by age group such as 14–19, 20–25). PC07 is stratified by severe obstetric complications (SOC) excluding cases where transfusion was the only severe obstetric complication. The Stratification definition intersects a "Stratification Encounter" definition with a definition entitled "Delivery Encounter Greater Than Or Equal To 20 Weeks Gestation Completed With Severe Obstetric Complications (Excluding Blood Transfusions)". Refer to the "Stratification Encounter" definition first. In eCQMs, stratification can occur at any population level. In our measure, defining the Stratification Encounter assures that any Denominator Exclusion case that also satisfies a numerator condition will NOT be stratified. Now let's look at the second definition in the intersect statement: "Delivery Encounters With Severe Obstetric Complications (Excluding Blood Transfusions)". This definition unions the following 2 definitions: "Delivery Encounters with Severe Obstetric Complications Diagnosis or Procedure (Excluding Blood Transfusion)" and "Delivery Encounters with Expiration". The first definition includes patients with a Severe Obstetric Complication diagnosis or a procedure indicative of severe obstetric complication (other than blood transfusion). Cases with blood transfusions are not excluded from this definition if they have another complication. Thereby, patients who only had a SOC of blood transfusion would not qualify for this definition. The second definition captures any expirations. These 2 definitions are then unioned and then intersected with the Stratification Encounter definition to provide the cases that meet the stratification criteria.     Stratification   //This logic identifies a subset of the numerator population with severe obstetric complications excluding cases where transfusion was the only severe obstetric complication. "Stratification Encounter"   intersect "Delivery Encounters with Severe Obstetric Complications (Excluding Blood Transfusions)" Stratification Encounter § "Numerator" § except "Denominator Exclusion"   Stratum 1 § //This logic identifies a subset of the numerator population with severe obstetric complications excluding cases where transfusion was the only severe obstetric complication. § "Stratification Encounter" § intersect "Delivery Encounters with Severe Obstetric Complications (Excluding Blood Transfusions)" Delivery Encounters with Severe Obstetric Complications (Excluding Blood Transfusions)   "Delivery Encounters with Severe Obstetric Complications Diagnosis or Procedure (Excluding Blood Transfusion)"   union "Delivery Encounters with Expiration" PCMaternal.Variable Calculated Gestational Age: As stated in the comments of this definition, this definition establishes a variable of CGA (Calculated Gestational Age). CGA is a supplemental data element to store the calculated gestational age result from the "CalculatedGestationalAge" function. The data element enables the capturing and saving of the CGA for data analysis post data receipt. Hospitals do not need to submit any additional data to comply with this definition.   Query #2: As per third definition (RiskVariable Anemia) in the query and attached screenshot from Guide for reading eCQMs - v8 , please help us understand if this needs to be handled in measure logic as none of the statements of IPP and denominator lead to these definitions of risk variables.   As stated in the Risk Variable section of the human readable file: Note regarding submission of risk variable data: The risk variable definitions are included in the specifications and risk variable data should be sent with eCQM data in the QRDA1 file. Specific risk variable templates are not needed in the QRDA1 files. Risk adjustment will be performed by the receiving system post data receipt. Therefore, please submit the needed data for risk adjustment but the risk adjustment methodology is not specified in the measure logic.